18 STARS OF 2018 | Luke Metcalf

Share on social media

To whet the appetite ahead of the 2018 Rugby League season, NSWRL.com.au looks at some of the up-and-coming male and female stars who will hope to represent NSW. Today, we run the eye over a promising playmaker who’s already represented the Blues at under-age level.

NSWRL Pathways prodigy Luke Metcalf finds a new home on Sydney’s Northern Beaches in 2018, having escaped the Cronulla Sharks’ net to sign with the Manly Sea Eagles on a three-year deal.

The Coffs Harbour product shone for Cronulla in the SG Ball Cup last season, guiding the National Champions of two years prior into the 2017 competition decider.

Despite the Sharks falling to the Parramatta Eels in the SG Ball Grand Final, Metcalf’s form warranted selection in the NSW Under-18s side that downed Maroons at ANZ Stadium ahead of Origin II – Metcalf himself crossing for a hat-trick in the 35-28 win.

“I moved to Sydney [in 2013] knowing that I’d get an opportunity down the road. I knew that if I wanted to make a career out of footy, I’d have to move out of Coffs,” Metcalf says.

“Once I was in the Sharks development, I found myself in the Harold Matthews, and progressed through to the ranks there.”

Making his Holden Cup (Under-20s) debut with the Sharks before last season’s end, Metcalf began training with his new club in the lead up to the Christmas break.